In this section

OVERTON

Ouretun (xi cent.).

The parish of Overton, including the townships of
Shipton and Skelton, covers 5,815 acres and lies in
the plain of York. The soil is entirely alluvial except
for a patch of Keuper Marl on which the hamlet of
Shipton stands. About half the area is arable land,
and Skelton is well wooded, 78 acres being covered
by plantations. (fn. 1)

The village consists of a few houses standing on a
slight rise on the left bank of the Ouse, about 5 miles
north-west of York. By the side of the road is a
base and truncated shaft of a stone cross, which has
been removed from its original position. Close to
the church is a farm-house on the site of the Hall,
which for many years formed the chief country seat
of the Abbots of St. Mary's, York. (fn. 2) At the Dissolution the last abbot begged to be allowed to retire
hither. The house was rebuilt in 1406 (fn. 3) by Robert
Warrop, Abbot of St. Mary's, according to an inscription on the woodwork of the parlour mentioned
by Dr. Hutton in 1661; he also records other inscriptions and coats of arms in the windows, but it
was then no longer possible to decipher them. (fn. 4) The
old hall had been demolished by 1736. (fn. 5) Traces of
old stonework, re-used, are, however, visible in the
house, and part of the encircling ditch or moat is still
to be seen.

Shipton is a fair-sized village standing on the main
north road not far from Beningbrough station on the
North Eastern railway. There are here a public
elementary school and a Wesleyan chapel. After
leaving the village the road continues due north
through Shipton Moor, where it is joined by Chapmans Lane and Amblers Lane, forming four distinct
cross roads. Shipton Grange and Hall Farm stand
rather isolated in the centre of the parish, with Cross
Lanes Farm further north.

Skelton, lying east of Overton, became an ecclesiastical parish in 1870. The village, which stands to the
east of the main road, is built round a green with the
church at the north end. There is also a Wesleyan
chapel here. The cottages are mostly modern, but
a farm-house on the east side has a picturesque
brick pigeon-house rising above some outbuildings.
Immediately to the north of the church stands the
manor-house, a former residence of the Lovells. The
building has been so much modernized and altered as
to leave little trace of the original arrangement; some
of the windows to the south front have restored stone
mullions and transoms, and the house probably dates
from the late 16th century. The house is two stories
high and much overgrown with creepers. Its chief
interest lies in the internal fittings, of which the staircase is a handsome example of Elizabethan work. The
square newels have pierced terminals of steeple form
and carved pendants, and the well-moulded rail rests
on turned balusters. The string has a good carved
vine leaf ornament. The drawing room has oakpanelled walls with a carved arcaded frieze enriched
with terminal figures. The dining room also retains
its old panelling, though much altered.

In 1634 (fn. 11) the inhabitants of Skelton were sued for
stopping up the highway from Huby to York in a
place in the forest of Galtres called Corbon, (fn. 12) by
making ditches and earth-works. Hall Moor in the
north is possibly the 'Halfield' mentioned in 1429. (fn. 13)
On the east of the moor is the small plantation of
Moorlands Wood, with several ponds near.

The mill that formed part of the manor in the
16th and 17th centuries (fn. 14) has now disappeared.
Wide Open Farm, so called in 1429, (fn. 15) is all that
remains of the 'Wipestune' that in 1086 was soke of
the archbishop's 'manor' of Helperby. (fn. 16)

Manors

At OVERTON in 1086 4 carucates
were in the hands of the king. (fn. 17) These
were granted by William Rufus to the
abbey of St. Mary's, York. (fn. 18) Count Alan also held
5 carucates here and at Skelton a berewick assessed at
2 carucates and 6 oxgangs. These had formerly been
in the hands of Morcar, who had a hall here before
the Conquest. (fn. 19) This land also was granted by Count
Alan (fn. 20) to the same religious house. Overton continued (fn. 21)
in the possession of St. Mary's until the Dissolution.

In 1540 (fn. 22) the manor of Overton with all the lands
here lately belonging to St. Mary's were granted in
exchange to Sir Thomas Heneage and Katherine his
wife, who in 1549 (fn. 23) sold it and several other manors
to Edward VI. After being leased out by the Crown (fn. 24)
the capital messuage was leased by Queen Elizabeth in
1595 (fn. 25) to Sir Thomas Scudamore, who granted a life
interest in the manor to John Jenkins, (fn. 26) his father-inlaw. (fn. 27) In 1605 (fn. 28) Sir Thomas received a grant of the
manor in fee, and died in 1621, (fn. 29) leaving a son and
heir William, who in 1624 conveyed the mansionhouse of Overton to his mother Mary. (fn. 30) William
married Elizabeth daughter of William Bourchier (fn. 31) of
Beningbrough Hall, and in 1640–1 (fn. 32) lodged a complaint against the Earl of Strafford concerning a
mortgage on his estates at Overton. William Scudamore died in 1661, (fn. 33) and was succeeded by his eldest
son and heir Thomas, (fn. 34) who in 1664 (fn. 35) sold the manor
to Barrington Bourchier of Beningbrough (q.v.). The
two manors henceforth followed the same descent, (fn. 36)
Overton being now in the hands of Captain Guy
Dawnay, D.S.O., of Beningbrough Hall.

In 1086 Count Alan had 6 carucates (fn. 37) in SHIPTON
(Hipton, xi cent.). This holding was evidently
included in the Mowbray fee. (fn. 38)

Richard de Camera held lands in Shipton and was
succeeded by a son Ralph, (fn. 39) who had a son Richard
and daughter Agnes. In 1292 (fn. 40) Richard obtained
licence to grant a messuage and 6 oxgangs to St. Mary's
Abbey; Agnes married John son of Walter le Gaoler, (fn. 41)
bringing lands in Shipton as her dower. These lands
were given to their son William le Gaoler, who alienated
them to the same religious house in 1316. (fn. 42)

Hugh de Longchamp appears to have held lands in
Shipton in demesne, (fn. 43) 2 oxgangs of which he granted
to his wife Helen the daughter of Richard de Richmond. They had a son David and daughter Emma,
who also granted their lands here to the Abbot of
St. Mary's. (fn. 44) There were various other grants to the
abbey in 1305 (fn. 45) 1315 (fn. 46) and 1322. (fn. 47) Shipton was in
the Liberty of St. Mary in 1316 and at the Dissolution
the abbey apparently held the manor and rectory. (fn. 48)

In 1549 (fn. 49) John Shipton, who had previously held
lands in Shipton, had a lease of the 'manor,' which
in 1551 (fn. 50) he conveyed to John Redman. In 1557 (fn. 51)
John Redman bought from Queen Mary the manor
which was formerly held by St. Mary's. He was
still holding in 1562 (fn. 52) and died seised of Shipton
Manor in 1574, (fn. 53) leaving no children, (fn. 54) and Shipton
passed under his will (fn. 55) to John son and heir of his
brother Richard, who died in 1579. (fn. 56) John died
in 1600, (fn. 57) leaving three sons, Matthew, John and
William, and four daughters. Matthew, the eldest
son, succeeded his father and was knighted by King
James. (fn. 58) He was holding the manor in 1619, (fn. 59)
but before 1625 it had passed to William Scudamore of Overton (fn. 60) (q.v.), whose son Thomas sold
it to Barrington Bourchier of Beningbrough Hall
(q.v.) in 1668. (fn. 61) Since that time the two manors
have followed the same descent, (fn. 62) and are now in
the hands of Captain Guy Dawnay, D.S.O., of
Beningbrough Hall.

Three carucates at MORTON (Mortun, xi cent.),
which seems to have been in this parish, were in the
king's hands in 1086 (fn. 63); they had been previously held
by Archil. Nothing is known of the overlordship of
this land, but in 1271 David le Lardiner held a
carucate here, rendering yearly 5s. to the altar of the
abbey of St. Mary's, York. (fn. 64) The descent of this
portion of Morton followed that of the other lands
of the Lardiner family in Skelton (q.v.).

In 1086 SKELTON (Sceltun, xi cent.) was
assessed at 9 carucates, and was entered among the
lands of the king, whose farmer (censorius) had the
2 carucates 6 oxgangs once held by Torber. (fn. 65) A
further holding of 2 carucates 6 oxgangs 'belonged
to' Count Alan's fee of Overton, while the remainder
had been held by the Archbishops of York from of
old. (fn. 66)

Possibly the first portions of the royal land to be
granted to sub-tenants were Corteburne and Hordrum
Wood, which Henry II gave to the ancestors of
David le Lardiner (fn. 67) by the serjeanty of keeping the
king's gaol of the forest and making and keeping
the king's larder, finding salt at his own cost. (fn. 68) For
this service he was allowed the upper legs and loins
of the deer, as well as various other liberties, including
the right to take every Saturday from every baker one
loaf or ½d., from every brewer one gallon of beer or
½d., from every butcher a pennyworth of meat, and
from every fish-cart four pennyworth of fish. (fn. 69) David
le Lardiner was receiving an annual allowance of
£7 12s. 1d. in 1166 (fn. 70); he had been succeeded by
Thomas his son by 1201–2. (fn. 71) David le Lardiner
was living in 1237. (fn. 72) He, or perhaps a son of the
same name, died in 1271 (fn. 73) seised of the land called
'Corteburne.' His son and heir David died in or
about 1280 (fn. 74) and in 1284 (fn. 75) his son Philip had
seisin of the serjeanty of the forest of Galtres.

In 1304 (fn. 76) Philip le Lardiner received licence to
enfeoff William Gra of York of a meadow called
Corteburne, and wood called Hordrum, containing
30 acres by forest perch. The lawn of Corteburn
and wood of 'Hordron' were granted by William
to Thomas his son before 1341. (fn. 77) Thomas afterwards alienated them to Thomas son of John Gra,
and he in 1360 obtained licence to grant them to
Joan widow of William Lord Greystock. (fn. 78) The
holding was again alienated by her to John de
Skutterskelfe, clerk. (fn. 79) He conveyed it to John
Vincent and others and by 1408 it was in the hands
of the lords of the manor. (fn. 80)

Little is known of the early history of the manor
of Skelton. In 1259–60 Hugh son of Robert de
Pontefract was holding land here, (fn. 81) but no indication of his status has been found. In 1318, however, Thomas son of Richard de Pontefract was in
possession of the manor, which he then sold to
William Gra and Alice his wife. (fn. 82) William Gra
had a daughter Ellen, on whom he settled these lands. (fn. 83)
She married a Duffield, and was followed by a son
Richard Duffield, who died in 1408, (fn. 84) leaving a son
and heir Thomas, aged sixteen. Thomas died in
1429, (fn. 85) leaving two daughters, Margaret and Elizabeth; the latter was only two days old, and survived
her father but a few days.

Margaret apparently married Thomas Nelson,
Mayor of York in 1454 and 1465, who died in or
about 1483–4, leaving his lands in Skelton to Thomas
his son and heir. (fn. 86) Thomas dying without issue, his
heir was his brother William, whose will was proved in
1525. (fn. 87) He was succeeded by Christopher, his eldest
son, who in 1528 (fn. 88) settled the manor on his eldest son
William and Anne his wife. Christopher died in
1554 (fn. 89) seised of Skelton Manor and a close called
'Corburne'; William his son was forty years old.
Bridget daughter of William Nelson married Edward
Besley, who in 1573 obtained a quitclaim to Skelton
from Christopher Nelson. (fn. 90)

Edward Besley and Bridget were still living in
1605, and in 1611 they being 'recusants' half the
manor was granted for forty-one years to Alexander
Stratton. (fn. 91) In 1613 they conveyed Skelton to their
son William, who in 1628 sold it to Thomas Atkinson. (fn. 92)

In 1633 Thomas Atkinson sold Skelton again to
Thomas Lovell, (fn. 93) who was still holding it in 1654, (fn. 94)
but sold the manor in the same year to James Brooke. (fn. 95)
He died in 1675, (fn. 96) leaving one son, Sir John Brooke,
bart., who was holding the manor in 1676 (fn. 97) and died
in 1691. (fn. 98) He had two sons, Sir James and Henry. (fn. 99)
Sir James was succeeded by a son Sir Job Brooke,
who died without issue, when his estates passed to
Honora, the only child of Henry Brooke and cousin
of Sir Job. (fn. 100) Honora became the wife of John
Jenkins, and was holding the manor of Skelton in
1770. (fn. 101) She died without issue in 1778, (fn. 102) when the
manor was put up to auction, and purchased in 1784
by Joshua Hepworth for £17,100. (fn. 103) From Joshua
Hepworth the manor has descended to the present
owner, Major Gresham Williams-Hepworth.

The rest of the king's land must have come into
the hands of the lords of Sheriff Hutton (q.v.), and
was held as one-sixth of a knight's fee. (fn. 104) The land
was held of the Nevills by the family of Lardiner, (fn. 105)
and follows the descent traced above.

The 2 carucates 6 oxgangs in Overton held by
Count Alan at the time of the Domesday Survey (fn. 106)
were granted by his brother to the abbey of St. Mary's,
York. (fn. 107) The abbey retained these lands until the
Dissolution, (fn. 108) when they were granted to Philip and
Thomas Lovell in 1545. (fn. 109) Philip died in 1558, leaving
a son Thomas, (fn. 110) who married Jane Hungate (fn. 111) and
died in 1571. (fn. 112) He was succeeded by a son Thomas,
who in 1583 had livery of his father's lands. (fn. 113) Thomas
died in 1603, leaving four sons and three daughters,
Thomas his heir being then thirteen years old. (fn. 114) He
married Mary Booth, (fn. 115) and in 1633 bought from
Thomas Atkinson (fn. 116) the manor of which the history
has already been traced. From this time the two
estates followed the same descent.

Certain lands appear to have been alienated by
St. Mary's Abbey before the Dissolution, for in
1528 Sir William Ingleby died seised of the 'manor'
of Skelton held of the Abbot of St. Mary's. (fn. 117) Sir
William Ingleby had a son William, (fn. 118) who held the
manor (fn. 119) until 1576, when it was sold to Edward
Besley. (fn. 120) Henceforward it followed the descent of
the chief manor of Skelton (q.v.).

In 1268 Robert de Askeby was holding lands in
Skelton (fn. 121) and died before 1279–80, when his widow
Euphemia claimed dower. (fn. 122) Henry son of Robert
died during his father's lifetime, leaving a son Robert,
a minor, in the custody of his mother Margery. (fn. 123)
Robert de Askeby had a daughter Margaret, on whom
he settled the manor of Skelton in 1323 on her
marriage with Hugh de Moresby. (fn. 124) In 1337 Hugh
de Moresby received a grant of free warren in
Skelton and Wigginton (fn. 125) and died in 1349, leaving
a son and heir Christopher. (fn. 126) He died in 1370 (fn. 127)
and was followed by a son Christopher, who in 1388
sold a quarter of the manor to Thomas Lovell of
Skelton. (fn. 128) The Lovells seem to have been a family
of some importance. William Lovell was holding
land of the Mowbray fee in Brotton towards the
close of the 13th century, and in 1315 a William
Lovell was a juror for the wapentake of Bulmer. (fn. 129)
Three years later Thomas son of Roger Lovell of
Skelton was accused of murder, and in 1320 he was
imprisoned at York for trespasses in the forest of
Galtres. (fn. 130) Thomas Lovell of Skelton was an attorney for John Moryn while the latter was in Britanny
in 1362 and for Sir Brian Roucliffe in 1365; he
served on many commissions from 1368 to 1384,
when he seems to have dropped out of public life,
though a Thomas Lovell was made a conservator of
various Yorkshire rivers in 1390. (fn. 131) In 1428 Thomas
and Elizabeth Lovell were tenants of the Nevill fee
in Skelton and Sutton. (fn. 132) It seems probable that
the land of this family followed the descent of the
land which had belonged to St. Mary's Abbey. (fn. 133)

The remaining 3½ carucates are described in
Domesday Book as in the hands of the Archbishop
of York or in the Liberty of St. Peter. (fn. 134) When in
course of time the two fees became distinct Skelton
fell to the share of the dean and chapter. (fn. 135) It does
not seem to have developed into a separate manor,
but was probably included in that of Alne and
Tollerton (q.v.); it is now held by various tenants.

Churches

The church of ST. CUTHBERT
was almost entirely rebuilt in 1855,
but the old design appears to have
been followed. It consists of a chancel, an aisled
nave, and western bellcote, containing two bells.
The style is 13th-century Gothic of the lancet type
and the arcades are said to be the old work re-used.
They are each of three bays with pointed arches and
piers with moulded capitals and bases, and have in
any case been completely scraped or recut. The
churchyard is entered by a modern lych-gate.

The plate includes a cup, paten and flagon, all
modern.

The registers begin in 1593.

The church of ALL SAINTS(fn. 136) at Skelton is
a rectangular building consisting of a chancel and
nave, both with side aisles, and measuring internally
44 ft. 3 in. by 32 ft. 6 in. The church as it stands
was completed shortly before 1247, and the building
presents examples of no other period. Though
small in dimensions, as an example of early 13thcentury work it is unequalled by any other parish
church in the county. The building was carefully
restored in 1814 to 1818, under the superintendence
of Henry Graham, but the groining then introduced
has since been removed.

Plan of Skelton Church

The church is divided into three bays, of which
the chancel occupies the easternmost, being separated
from the nave by a chancel arch. The east window
consists of three equal lancets with detached shafts
between them both internally and externally. These
have moulded bases and capitals with nail-head ornament, and the window-heads are deeply moulded
and enriched with dog-tooth and nail-head. Halfway up the external shafts are moulded bands. A
line of dog-tooth is also carried down the edge of
the outer external jambs. Above the central lancet
is a vesica-shaped window in the gable having a
moulded hood carried round it. The north and
south chancel walls have a deep eastern respond and
a single arch on each side communicates with the
side chapels. The arches are pointed and of two
simple chamfered orders and the responds have each
three attached shafts keeled on the outer edge with
moulded capitals and bases, those on the east being
banded at half their height. In the south-east
respond is a trefoil-headed piscina, the bowl of which
is supported on carved foliage. Opposite this is an
aumbry and on the east wall to the north side is a
foliated bracket shaped like a column capital. The
north chapel has a single lancet in the east wall with
an external label and two much smaller lights of
similar form in the north wall. Near the eastern
one is an aumbry and in the south wall is a trefoilheaded piscina. On the east wall are remains of the
broken corbels supporting the altar. The south
chapel corresponds exactly to the north, with regard
to the windows, piscina and aumbry, but in place of
the western window in the south wall is a small
door with a head segmental-pointed internally and
two-centred externally with chamfered jambs. At
the west ends of both chapels are traces of the
mortises for wood screens now destroyed. The
chancel and chapels are covered by one high-pitched
roof, the east wall being divided only by small
gabled buttresses
two stages high,
and having a pair
of low buttresses of
similar detail at the
two angles. Both
internally and externally a moulded
string-course is carried round the east
wall below the sills
of the windows, on
the side walls it
becomes externally
a hood to the windows and door. On
the east gable is a
very beautiful cross
with a moulded
base, circular stem
and floreated arms.
The chancel arch
is of similar character to the arcades,
of two chamfered
orders with a hood
moulding on the
west face springing
from responds with three attached shafts. Above it
the wall is pierced with a simple pointed opening in
the gable. Resting on this wall is a bellcote of stone,
gabled and finished with a cross with floreated arms
which is apparently not original. The two bell
openings are acutely pointed and divided by a pier
of four attached shafts with moulded capital and
base. Both arches are included under a main arch,
the spandrel being enriched with a quatrefoil having
dog-tooth ornament.

The nave is two bays long only, with arcades
exactly similar to those between the chancel and
chapels. The shafts are all keeled on their outer
edges and the moulded capitals have nail-head ornament. The west wall is pierced by a tall lancet
window with external banded jamb shafts having
moulded capitals and bases and a line of dog-tooth
ornament. The head is enriched in the same
manner, and above it in the gable is a circular
window with a hood moulding carried round. The
nave aisles are continuous with the chancel chapels
and have each a small lancet window in the first bay.
In the second bay on the north is a simple pointed
north door. The south door, opposite to it, is the
finest feature of the building, and, though considerably restored, is an exact reproduction of the original
work. It is set in a gabled projection from the aisle
wall and is recessed in four orders. The pointed
arch is richly moulded and has two rows of dogtooth ornament which is again repeated on the hood.
The latter terminates in carved foliage bosses. The
jambs have each three free and one attached shaft
with bell capitals enriched with 'stiff leaf' foliage.
The bases are of the 'hold water' type and rest on a
moulded plinth following the line of the bases. The
abacus of the capitals is carried round the projection
as a string-course, stopping against the aisle wall.
Above the arch is a horizontal string-course and the
acutely-pointed gable terminates in a cross of curious
form, and having a band of nail-heads round the
stem. At the west end of each aisle is a lancet
window uniform with the eastern chapel windows.
The buttresses of the west end are similar to those
on the east. The church is faced entirely in ashlar
and the roofs are all modern, blue slating having
taken the place of the earlier tiling. On the walls
of the nave aisles are painted Scripture texts in frames
of scroll work.

Skelton Church from the South-east

The font is contemporary with the church with
an octagonal bowl chamfered back and cut into a
number of facets on each side, the stem is a plain
octagon and the base is moulded.

In the south chapel is a slab with a partially
obliterated marginal inscription in black letter to
Robert Lovell and Anne his wife, who died 24 July
and 25 March 1421 respectively. Some fragments
of ancient glass remain in the west window of the
north aisle.

The bells were formerly hung in a little covered
steeple at the west end of the church, removed in
the late 18th century. They are two in number,
the first inscribed 'Gloria in excelsis Deo. Richard
Maskell Churchwarden 1677'; the second 'Soli Deo
gloria pax hominibus Dalton founder York 1782.'

The plate consists of a cup (London, 1728), the
gift of Mr. Francis Taylor, a flagon (London, 1777),
a paten (London, 1720), also the gift of Mr. Taylor,
and a modern plate.

The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) mixed
entries 1538 to 1654. A note at the side of the
first page reads: 'This charge to register the names
was first given in the 30th yeare of Hen. the 8th
Anno Dm. 1538 in the Lo. Abbotts Visitaton holden
at Byland. John Darley then Parson of Skelton
Octob. 27, 1538'; (ii) mixed entries 1657 to 1750;
(iii) mixed entries 1751 to 1790; (iv) baptisms and
burials 1791 to 1812; and various transcripts of the
earlier registers.

The church of the HOLY EVANGELISTS at
Shipton, built in 1849 in 13th-century Gothic style,
consists of a chancel, a nave with aisles five bays
long and a tower surmounted by a spire at the west
end of the north aisle. It has a wooden rood screen
and an oak reredos with modern paintings of the
Annunciation, Crucifixion, Resurrection, SS. Peter,
John, Paul and Stephen. The churchyard has a
modern lych-gate. The living is a vicarage, held
with Overton.

Advowson

The church of St. Cuthbert at
Overton was in the possession of the
Abbots of St. Mary's, York, in 1291, (fn. 137)
being apparently appurtenant to the manor confirmed
to them by William Rufus. (fn. 138) In 1540, after the
Dissolution, it was granted to Sir Thomas Heneage, (fn. 139)
and it has followed the descent of the manor (q.v.)
until the present day, being now in the gift of
Captain Guy Dawnay, D.S.O., of Beningbrough Hall.

The church of All Saints at Skelton belonged with
the rectory to the abbey of St. Mary's, York. (fn. 140) After
a lease to William Gourley in 1577, it was granted
by Queen Elizabeth in August 1590 to Edward
Downing and Roger Rante, (fn. 141) and sold by them in
the same month to Thomas Scudamore of Overton. (fn. 142)
In 1623 William Scudamore, son of Thomas, and
Mary his mother, sold the rectory and advowson to
Sir William Ingram and Arthur, his third son. (fn. 143) In
1634 Arthur Ingram sold them to Thomas Lovell, the
lord of the manor, and they followed the descent of
the manor, (fn. 144) being now in the gift of Major E. W.
Gresham Williams-Hepworth.

Charities

The Free School was founded by
Ann Middleton, by her will, 1655,
confirmed by decree of commissioners
of charitable uses, 18 Charles II. In addition to the
school buildings a yearly sum of £40, part of a clear
yearly rent-charge of £45 6s., secured by a certain
indenture, dated 27 November 1766, was by an order,
made under the Board of Education Act, 1899, dated
9 August 1904, determined to be applicable to educational purposes. (fn. 145) The said Ann Middleton also gave
an annuity of 20s. for the poor of the township
of Shipton. It forms part of the yearly rent-charge
secured by the deed of 1766 above referred to, and
is paid by Capt. Guy Dawnay of Beningbrough Hall,
and is distributed by the parish council in money
among the poor together with the interest on £35
in the Yorkshire Penny Bank, the origin of which
is unknown, but which may represent a legacy under
the will of Richard Carlton, dated in 1788. (fn. 146)

76. Cal. Pat. 1301–7, p. 304; Abbrev.
Rot. Orig. (Rec. Com.), i, 141. Philip died
before June 1305, leaving co-heirs, Margaret, aged twenty, and Ellen, aged eighteen
(Chan. Inq. p.m. 33 Edw. I, no. 19).
Stephen Sampson and Margaret his wife,
in right of Margaret, quitclaimed a manor
of Skelton to Thomas son of John Gra
and his wife in 1344 (Feet of F. Yorks.
18 Edw. III, no. 54). Margaret was
evidently related to the family of Lardiner,
for John de Thornton, Alice his wife and
Robert le Lardiner put in a claim (ibid.).
John de Thornton died in about 1369
seised of rents in Skelton by the service
of keeping the gaol of the forest, the inheritance of Alice; their son was Robert
de Thornton (Chan. Inq. p.m. 43 Edw. III,
pt. ii [1st nos.], no. 29; cf. ibid. 51
Edw. III [1st nos.], no. 1).

136. It is usually called St. Peter's from
a tradition still prevalent in the parish
that it was built from the stones that
remained after the south transept of York
Minster (commenced 1227) was finished.
For date of completion see confirmation
of a donation in Archbishop Gray's Roll
(inform. from Rev. H. E. Ketchley). For
further description of the church see
Ewan Christian, Skelton Church.